Keep in mind that there are also plenty of easy ways to prevent dull skin in the first place. There are many topical things you can do to keep skin looking bright, such as regularly exfoliating to slough off the dead skin cells that dull your complexion. However, truly radiant skin starts from the inside out, so consider what you’re putting in your body, too. Upping your hydration game and drinking plenty of water will keep skin hydrated and plump. Antioxidant-rich foods, such as colorful fruits and veggies, are a must as they’re loaded with nutrients that help skin glow. When it comes to makeup, arguably the best piece of advice is that less is more. You may think that going in with a heavy hand of foundation can help spackle and hide redness and dark spots, but too much coverage can actually call attention to such areas. Instead, stick to lightweight formulas and subtle touches. While you’re at it, play up your features with dewy textures that catch the light and enhance your skin’s natural radiance. Think: on the high points of your face like your cheekbones and even on lids and the inner corners of your eyes, too. Skip dark eyeliner and opt for a few swipes of mascara instead. If you’re feeling adventurous or want to distract from any redness in or around your eye, go for a blue mascara—it has a brightening effect. So next time your alarm blares in the morning and you’re begging for just five more minutes, go ahead and hit the snooze button, now that you have these time-saving, fake-awake tips on your side.
How to Revive Tired Skin
Step 1: Brighten Waking up to refreshed skin after eight-ish hours of uninterrupted sleep is what dreams are made of. However, since life often gets in the way, we’ve come up with a few go-to tricks to help liven up sluggish skin on rough mornings. First, reach for a gentle face scrub instead of your regular cleanser. The physical sensation of buffing will help wake your senses and slough off dead skin cells so skin will automatically look healthier. Try Clark’s Botanicals Dual Charcoal Detox ($45; revolve.com), which has charcoal powder, fruit extracts, and ginger extract to brighten blah skin. Massage it onto damp skin, then leave it on for a few minutes while you brush your teeth. Rinse with cool water, then apply a peptide-packed serum to help plump skin. We like Beautycounter Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum ($79, beautycounter.com), which contains a proprietary peptides blend and amino acids to plump, hydrate, and firm skin—even when your battery is drained. Step 2: Depuff Make your serum work even better with this one-minute DIY facial massage. In addition to feeling relaxing, manipulating your skin with your hands helps rev up blood flow, resulting in a rosy flush. It also helps improve circulation and flushes out excess fluids so you won’t look as puffy—especially helpful after a salty dinner or late-night drinks. Apply a few pumps of serum to your hands, then rub them together. Press your fingers between your brows and slide them up your forehead, repeating a few times. Then, using your fingertips, massage from the center of your face, past your cheeks, and toward your ears. Drop one level lower and repeat the same motion across your jawline. Step 3: Enhance When you look tired, your gut reaction might be to do a full face of makeup. However, makeup artists advise against it, suggesting a less-is-more approach since piling makeup on dehydrated skin can emphasize pores and lines. Apply a tinted moisturizer with light-reflecting particles, since adding a sheen will make you look more alive. Try Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($47; ulta.com). Then, apply a bit of blush onto the apples of your cheeks to give your skin a flush of healthy color. We like Patrick Ta Double-Take Creme and Powder Blush ($34; patrickta.com) as it comes with both a hydrating cream blush for a dewy look and an airy powder one in a complementary tone for a matte finish. Instead of highlighter, which can settle in lines, press a light-catching balm like Glossier Haloscope in Quartz ($22; glossier.com) onto cheekbones.
How to Perk Up Puffy Eyes
Step 1: Soothe Lack of sleep and genetics can contribute to dark circles and puffy under eyes, but we’ve got a few solutions you can keep up your sleeve. Chill four spoons in your fridge for 15 minutes, then place the round sides of the spoons under your eyes until the metal warms up. If you want to upgrade from spoons, consider investing in an ice roller, a stainless-steel roller you house in the freezer until you want to roll it over your skin and under your eyes to temporarily depuff. Try Tarte Pack Your Bags Face Globe ($14; tarte.com) or slick on cooling eye-gel patches instead. We like Milk Makeup Cooling Water Eye Patches ($22 for six pairs; sephora.com). They’re infused with caffeine to help decrease puffiness and aloe to calm stressed skin, making them the perfect prep step before applying makeup. Finish by tapping on an illuminating eye cream (use your ring finger, the weakest, to avoid tugging the delicate skin around your eyes). Try Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening + Depuffing Eye Contour Cream ($65; sephora.com), which has caffeine and light reflecting particles that instantly plump and brighten the area. Step 2: Conceal While you aim to clock more shut-eye, a great concealer, when applied correctly, will help you fake it until you make it. Apply concealer after tinted moisturizer—options are endless, but liquid concealer formulas tend to work best on the thin skin around the eyes. A general rule of thumb: Use a concealer that’s one shade lighter than your base to help brighten skin. If you’re aiming to hide blueish under eye circles, go for a yellow-tone concealer. If you have brown or red discoloration under your eyes, opt for a peachy-based one. Using your fingers or a brush, apply the product in a semicircle, starting along the inner corners and working your way to the outer ones. Be sure to hit the hollow part (the tear trough) that sinks in—that’s where a natural shadow is cast, so adding some brightness will help cancel out the darkness and depth. Then blend; fingers work well, since they add warmth that helps the concealer melt into the skin. We like Armani Power Fabric High Coverage Stretchable Concealer ($34; giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com). After applying, go back over the concealer with your fingertips to remove excess product, which will prevent it from settling into lines. For an extra brightening shot, dust on a bit of soft-focus setting powder. A good one: Lawless Brightening Translucent Talc-Free Loose Setting Powder ($36; sephora.com). Step 3: Highlight Using the same Glossier highlighting stick, dab a dot in the inner corners of your eyes and over your lids for a little lift. Finish with mascara and go win the day.
